title: Substance use among women veterans: epidemiology to evidence-based treatment.
abstract: An increasing percentage of women are U.S. Military Veterans. We review the substance misuse rates and comorbidities and the risk factors for and consequences of substance use among women Veterans. Women Veterans may have higher rates of substance misuse and comorbid psychiatric and medical disorders than male Veterans and women who are not Veterans. Studies support the AUDIT-C as a scaled marker of alcohol-related risk among female Veterans, but validated drug screening instruments are needed. We discuss evidence-based approaches in terms of treating women Veterans' substance misuse in primary and specialty care settings, along with knowledge gaps and potential research priorities to improve care in this special population.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Care Evaluation , Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. michael.cucciare@va.gov
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cucciare
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hoggatt
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gifford
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Timko
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*